However, after last night’s Blake Griffin dunk, I think some people are getting a LITTLE bit carried away.  Was it the best dunk of the year?  Of course.  But how quickly we forget dandies like these.

Four Dunks That Top Blake Griffin’s Throw Down

Vince Carter over Alonzo Mourning

Why is this dunk better?  One huge reason: the degree of difficulty.

The Griffin is four inches taller than Vince for one.  Of course, it’s not necessarily fair to hold Griffin’s height against him, but the fact of the matter is dunking is more impressive when a little man does it.  The other factor that contributes to the difficulty is the fact that Mr. Carter dunked the ball over one of the greatest shot-blockers in history.  Of course, Kendrick Perkins is no slouch, and is a little larger than Alonzo, but the dunk over Zo remains more difficult than what Blake did last night.

Past the difficulty, each dunk had it’s greatness.  Blake through the ball through the hoop, Carter rocked it back farther than maybe any dunk ever.  Both had the surprise factor going as well.  Nobody was really expecting either dunk.  But for now, Vince > Blake…if not by much.

Shawn Kemp Reverse Dunk (#2 in the following clip)

Alright, now we can really compare apples to apples, as Griffin and Kemp are basically the same size.  What makes this dunk so great is that it would have been fantastic if it had been in the dunk contest with no defenders around.  But it wasn’t.

Kemp breathtakingly takes off from outside the lane, then goes up and under to the other side and dunks it ON the Golden State big man under the hoop.

As good as Blake’s dunk was, he simply went straight up and dunked it on Kendrick.

Again, not trying to take away from Blake’s dunk at all, but Kemp’s had more flash AND a higher degree of difficulty.

Vince Carter’s Inverted 360. (The first dunk in the following clip)

The greatest slam dunk contest dunk of all time.

Oh sure, VC’s through the legs dunk in the same contest was almost equally as breathtaking.  Air and the Human Highlight Reel had some incredible showcases as well.

But this dunk had it all.

It was Vince’s first dunk of the night, and I will never forget the feeling I got when I saw it happen.  We all remember him looking into the camera and dictating that “It was over.”

Not only did he spin the OPPOSITE way of most 360s, but he also held the ball in his right hand and had to time his tomahawk just right so as to not miss the hoop completely.

Now of course, you could say that since Blake’s dunk was ON somebody, it had a higher degree of difficulty, but I’m not sure we will ever see a dunk as vicious as what Vince-sanity through down to launch the greatest set of dunks in dunk contest history.

Vince Carter Over Frederick Weiss

Quite simply, the greatest dunk of all time.

I mean, he literally jumped OVER the seven-footer.

Credit: Darren McNamara/Allsport

So what do you think?  Were these dunks better than Blake’s from last night?

My first thought was that Rob Lowe had said something provocative. Then I had an awful thought that maybe someone had gotten injured, sick, or worse…but I immediately was reassured by the tone of voice of the speaker.

No, this wasn’t a negative Twitter explosion. It was a jubilant.

And then I found out why.

And oh me, oh my.

Blake Griffin was the reason for the Twitter explosion, and as soon as I saw the monstrous and absurdly athletic “dunk” he threw down on Kendrick Perkins I knew why. Watch the video if you, like me, didn’t see it last night:

The reason I put dunk in quotation marks above is because it almost looks like Griffin’s hand doesn’t touch the rim. You can see the ball slipping out as his arm comes down towards the rim. It’s more of a “throw down” than a dunk.

Although, in the postgame interview, Griffin said that his hand did touch the rim this time, unlike in past spectacular slams. Not that it matters. It’s breathtaking either way.

And one spectacular slam in particular that he is referring to is Griffin’s famous throw down over Timofey Mosgov of the Knicks.

In case you’ve forgotten, watch the video below. I promise it’s a different video than the one above.

It’s incredible how similar the dunks are. Both are perfect showcases for Griffin’s scintillating blend of athleticism and power. But is one better than the other?

Chime in.

Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll.

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Yesterday, after re-setting my lineup for this weekend’s DraftStreet freeroll tournament (click here to join here for free), I counted down the 22 most unintentionally hilarious pictures of the famously photogenic Gasol.

I had no intention of posting again about Gasol today, because I was Gasol-ed out after yesterday and because a Spaniard playing in Los Angeles doesn’t exactly scream “Midwest,” but after stumbling upon the animated GIF below what choice did I have?

Behold, the greatness of Paul Gasol playing defense against Blake Griffin:

GIF source: HachisVertas.net via Reddit

There are so many things I could say about this GIF (including that I’d love to see whatever thunderous dunk Blake Griffin threw down), but in lieu of that I’m just going to watch it 17 more times and chuckle heartily to myself as Gasol attempts to perfect the doggy-paddle defense.

Pau, you da man.

I know the preseason doesn’t mean anything as far as records go, but the Clippers impressed me and I think they surprised the Lakers.

Image source: BSO

Did anyone else have doubts about Chauncey playing the shooting guard? I had some reservations, but after watching them play, I think it could work.

My wife’s grandfather exclaimed that he had never seen Billups hit so many three-pointers. I thought about it and deduced that the reason is he has always been a point guard, and while he is “Mr Big Shot” he also shared the ball because that is what a true point guard does. Now that he is at the two guard spot, he can bomb threes, and that is dangerous. He is a smaller two guard, but he is strong and has a few tricks up his sleeve. He can help the Clippers.

I would, however, like to see the Clips trade Mo Williams for a solid shooting guard to come off the bench for Billups since some teams could expose the lack of size in Clipper two guards. They could possibly trade for someone like a John Salmons or a Mike Dunleavy and maybe send one of the Hornets second round picks they got in the trade or even a first rounder to upgrade. Yes, draft picks are valuable, but when you have young talented players who are under contract, they can become a valuable trade asset to win now.

The Clips frontcourt is stellar. While DeAndre Jordan and Blake Griffin have a lot of work to do in the realm of pure post moves on offense, they are explosive in the pick and roll as well as defensively and on the glass. Lob City, here we come.

The signing of small forward Caron Butler is something that was under the radar, but I think he is a key piece. I was never impressed with Al-Farouq Aminu. He didn’t have any impressive skills. He was good at everything, but great at nothing. Butler is an excellent defender and can knock down threes. He is just what the Clips need with everyone collapsing down on Jordan, Griffin and CP3.

Do I even need to talk about how Chris Paul makes them better? Didn’t think so.

The Clippers have some decent depth and I hope and don’t think they are done moving pieces. They will be a force in the West. Count on it.

Chris Paul has been sent to the LA Clippers, while the New Orleans Hornets will receive Chris Kaman, Eric Gordon, Al-Farouq Aminu, Minnesota’s 2012 unprotected first-round draft pick, and two 2015 second-round picks from the Clips.

So now what?

Image source: FBasketballBlog.com

The New New Orleans Hornets

After numerous rejections by the league, which included a trade between Houston, the LA Lakers, and New Orleans, and a previous deal between the Clippers and Hornets, the third try was a success. Some might not like the fact that David Stern has been playing GM for the Hornets, but at the end of the day he has every right; the NBA owns the team.

And I have to admit that Stern gets an A for the deal.

The Hornets get a veteran big man in Chris Kaman who should be a strong leader in a locker room that will be very fresh and new. They also get a future All Star, at least I believe so, in Eric Gordon. The 2-guard has one of the better 3-point shots in the league, is a solid defender, and can only get better. Then they also get a solid piece for the future in Aminu. Being the 8th overall pick in the 2010 draft, Aminu still has a lot of upside in his 6-9 frame and should have a lot of room to grow in a young Hornets roster. Then the unprotected 2012 first-round pick from Minny should speak for itself.

The Paul-Griffin Clippers

And then there are the LA Clippers, whom I believe also have struck gold in this deal. But who doesn’t?

While I do believe they downgraded their bench and their size, they secured a very important piece in building a championship contender: one of, if not the best PG in the league, a guy with unmatched court-vision, a great ability to create his own shot, and a very strong defensive presence on the wing.

Can you just imagine the oops we’re going to see from Chris Paul to Blake Griffin? Even DeAndre Jordan?

Speaking of the two, check out their reaction to the CP3 deal:

As for Chris Paul, it was 425 strong games with the Hornets, but not one season was New Orleans ever in strong contention to win an NBA title. While the Clippers might not have been Paul’s first choice, he can’t be upset with what he has alongside him now; do we have a possible Malone-Stockton in Griffin-Paul??

Perhaps.

Now don’t get me wrong, I still don’t believe the Clippers have the roster to be able to take down the Lakers or Mavs out West, but I do believe they jumped up quite a bit. They essentially went from a lower lottery team to a definite playoff contender with this trade. With acquisitions this offseason like Caron Butler, Chauncey Billups and now Chris Paul, the Clippers are now in a threatening position for the next two years.

Also, don’t expect this to be the last deal for the Clippers, as they are VERY deep with guards and need an extra big man or two.

As I mentioned, the Clippers are now in a threatening position and from what I see they are one more key player away from being a title contender.

Could we be witnessing a new ‘Big Three’ forming before our very eyes?

Maybe, maybe not.

What I do know is that now there is one more team to watch for out in Los Angeles.

Remember, our goal here is to rank the top 25 players in the NBA right now.

A quick review of the criteria:

Bill Gates, an extremely under-the-radar die-hard basketball fan, approaches you with an idea. The NBA lockout will not be resolved this year.  Mr. Gates has decided to fund a rogue basketball league for the next six months.  Here are the rules:

• There will be 25 teams.
• Every player in the world is up for grabs.
• You are presented with the #1 pick.
• We are using the exact same game rules as the NBA (example: no hand-checking, so quick guards maintain their ridiculous advantage).
• The draft will follow the incredibly boring old-school non-snake style…so you get the 1st pick…and the 26th pick…and the 51st pick…etc.  Does this make it extremely unfair for the guy picking 25th?  Sure.  Who cares.  Just think about yourself in this scenario.
• Salaries don’t matter…Bill Gates will pay all 1st round picks $20 million dollars, all 2nd round picks $5 million dollars, 3rd round picks $3 million dollars…and so on.
• The league will last for four months exactly.  Come June, the NBA lockout will be resolved, and even though they lost a season, they will be ready to come back in 2012.
• The GM of the winning team gets $50 million dollars and the opportunity to become the new GM of the Portland Trail Blazers – the team that Bill Gates just stole from Paul Allen in a move that has the entire business world in a frenzy.

Who do you pick?

The reason for all of these rules is simple.

• It doesn’t matter which NBA player has the most future potential.
• It doesn’t matter which NBA players have championship rings under their belts.
• It doesn’t matter who each NBA player currently plays with.
• Nothing matters but this:  Who is the best player, right now, in the NBA.

As promised, here is my top 25.

Guys who narrowly missed the cut: Tim Duncan, Kevin Garnett, Marc Gasol, Rudy Gay, Tony Parker, Joakim Noah, Joe Johnson, Danny Granger, Andrew Bogut, and Stephen Curry.

 25. Al Jefferson

Jefferson is one of maybe five guys in the entire league that commands a double team in the low post. He averaged 19 and 10 last season, and he even improved on the defensive end where he blocked almost two shots a game. Another issue that has flown under the radar is that besides his major knee injury a few seasons ago, he’s surprisingly durable – he’s only missed six games in the past four years otherwise.

24. Manu Ginobili

At 34 years old, Manu’s prime is probably behind him. However, this will still only be his tenth year in the league, and he has a lot left in the tank for the near future. Last season, he was clearly the Spurs’ best player, averaging 17, 5, and 4 for a team that finished with the best record in the West. A lot of what Manu does can’t be measured in stats though – like catching bats with his bare hands.

For those of you that think Manu is overrated, I offer you this: List five shooting guards in the NBA who are better than him. Can’t do it, can you? Manu still got game.

23. Monta Ellis

Ok ok…don’t freak out. Monta is the first of several guys that we will talk about that is just, unfortunately, trapped on a terrible team in a system that is not right for him. Remember the criteria for this exercise: you get to build the team. Are there three reasons why he couldn’t be a poor man’s Allen Iverson with the right players?

First of all, the rules favor Monta more than they EVER favored Iverson. If you could team Ellis up with a tall point guard that’s a good shooter and could guard other shooting guards (Jason Kidd), and even a remotely decent big man that could shoot the rock from 20 feet (David Lee, Paul Millsap, etc.), wouldn’t Ellis be absolutely TERRIFYING to guard one-on-one? If you spread the floor with shooters, and big men that could bang inside and shoot, Ellis would be fabulous.

22. Paul Pierce

Pierce, at 34, is still getting it done on both ends of the floor. He averaged 19 points a game last season for a team that had a surprisingly low number of scorers. He routinely guards the other team’s best player, and he is incredibly durable. He’s boring, old-school, and tough. And he’s still a top 25 player in the league.

21. Kevin Love

ESPN listed Love as the #16 overall player in the league. Here is my counter. Didn’t we see what Kevin Love’s ceiling as a team’s best player was last season? Sure, he’s a double-double machine, but the T-Wolves were absolutely terrible.

Yes, they have an awful GM. And yes, they also had 35 small forwards on their team. However, Chris Bosh did more with just as little for years in Toronto. I love the big fella, but he’s not better than ANY of the next five guys – who all happen to be Power Forwards as well.

20. Chris Bosh

• Is Bosh languishing away on a team that doesn’t cater to his strengths in the least bit? Yes.
• If Bosh was traded for someone half as good but with a game like Joakim Noah, would the Heat be much better? Yes.
• Is Bosh way too much of a finesse big man for the Heat to succeed? Possibly.
• But is Bosh still a great player? Yes.

Just remember what he did on Team USA when the team made sense. If you drafted Chris Bosh, you could draft a guy like Noah to play beside him, do all the dirty work, and play defense – enabling Bosh to be an unguardable force on the high post – just like he was in Toronto.
Bosh has taken a lot of heat (no pun intended), but on the right team, in the right system, he is still absolutely one of the best players in the game.

19. Al Horford

Horford is another guy that is stuck on a team that doesn’t cater to his strengths at all. However, he is so unselfish that he has filled the hole in the Hawks for years with nary a complaint. In all actuality, he’s a very skilled big man that can shoot and pass very well. For the Hawks, he’s stuck defending the other team’s best big man every game, and trying to grab every single rebound that Josh Smith doesn’t tip dunk.
He’s been playing a rough, tough game for four years now, even though that’s not necessarily his strength. Put him on the right team, and he will blossom into so much more.

18. Amare Stoudemire

What can you say about Amare that hasn’t been said already? Are his knee problems terrifying to think about for Knicks fans? Yes. Does he constantly play “matador” defense AT BEST? Yes. Is he an arrogant player who fits right in with the other stars in New York? Yes.
But he’s also the third best scoring big man in the league, as well as a surprisingly effective player in crunch time. I would take Amare for one year any day of the week.

17. Blake Griffin

When I first saw that ESPN had Griffin at #10, I freaked out. Then I thought further. He had to play for Mike Dunleavy, they never ran plays for him, and there really were no good passers on the Clippers last year. Despite all of that, he averaged 23 and 12.

The excitement that Griffin brings to the floor is unmatched, and the intensity with which he plays is unbelievable. Unfortunately, I’m not sure HOW MUCH that actually translates into winning games. Would Griffin be a top 3 player if this was about the future? Definitely. However, if we are just looking at this year, there are still some other guys left on the board that have more complete games, and have proven to be better winners than the youngster.

16. LaMarcus Aldridge

Aldridge might be the most underrated player in the league. What is it about Portland players being underrated? For years, Brandon Roy was the guy that didn’t get nearly enough credit, and now it’s the big man that he was drafted with.

Very quietly, Aldridge averaged 22 and 9 last season, as he led the Blazers to a surprising playoff birth. He also shot a very good 50% from the field and even 80% from the foul line. He’s one of the best big men scorers in the league, and is a much better passer and defender than Amare and Blake.

15. Steve Nash

Is he almost over the hill? Sure. Is he over the hill yet? Only if averaging 15 points and 11 assists with percentages of 49/91/40 is bad.

The fact is that Steve Nash practically wrote the book on how a point guard should run a team in this era. I think it’s clear to everyone, now, that HE was the engine in the machine, not Mike D’Antoni.

As long as you surround Nash with a few shooters and a big man that can protect the rim, Nash’s teams are a lock for the playoffs.
I have to be careful with Nash, because I love him so much that hyperboles can start rolling shamelessly off my tongue. But make no mistake about it. Nash is the best teammate in the league, and if I had the #15 pick and he was still on the board, I would take him in a heartbeat.

14. Pau Gasol

Pau is one of those guys that’s 10x more impressive when you watch him live. He has more skill than almost every other big man, and is actually a very good teammate (consider the fact that he has meshed with Kobe, World Peace, the Kardashians, and more for the past several years).

I probably don’t even need to spend much more time defending him. In my mind, he’s not only the fourth best big man in the league, he’s a winner.

13. Zach Randolph

To be honest, I wanted to put the big man higher. There is no more dominant big man in the league right now on the offensive side of the ball than Z-Bo. He can shoot the three, he can post you, he can hit the midrange j, and he can pass…all while possessing a 10 inch vertical. If Randolph were white, he would be hailed as the next Kevin McHale. Instead, people keep focusing on his troubled past and saying, “Let’s see him do it again.”

Not me. Randolph is simply unstoppable with the ball in his hands. And in a league with so few big men, that makes him the 13th best player in the league.

Crap. Now I want to rank him higher. Let me just move on before I talk myself into anything foolish.

12. Deron Williams

Well, I think we can all put to rest the Deron Williams vs. Chris Paul arguments for the time being. Even so, D-Will is still a fantastic player.
He’s probably the most complete scorer at the PG position in the league, and his size advantage allows him to tire out most other PGs every single game.

Unfortunately for Deron, I’m not sure if he’s really a great team player. A guy can have high assist numbers without actually making his team better, and I’m afraid Deron is one of those guys.

11. Rajon Rondo

Instead of talking about what Rondo CAN’T do (shoot the ball), let’s discuss what he CAN do.

Without a doubt, he’s the best defensive point guard in the league. And in a league where nobody can guard anybody, that’s an invaluable quality.

Further than that, he’s the third best passer in the league behind Nash and CP3. He averaged over 11 assists a game last year…and NOBODY was playing him to score. Teams went into games knowing that Rondo was going to pass first…and he still abused them.

Sure, he’s a bad shooter. That’s fine. I’ll still take a guy who is going to be the fiercest player on the floor in every game, and who will have his teammates’ undying respect at all times.

10. Russell Westbrook

There is no better example of a “Table” player in the league. He brings so much to the dinner table…and yet takes so much away.

Is he possibly a bad teammate for Kevin Durant? There’s no question.

However, I will never forget opening night from last season when he went mano-y-mano with Derrick Rose down the stretch…and beat him.
All I’m saying is this. If you traded Westbrook for Rose last season, I don’t think there would have been a huge difference. Sure, Chicago may have won 5 fewer games, but all things considered, I think Westbrook would have been a SLIGHTLY poor man’s MVP.

So basically, you have a guy who is 97% as good as Derrick Rose. That’s amazing. He’s definitely a top ten player in my book…especially if I could build my team around him the right way.

9. Carmelo Anthony

Charles Barkley once said that Carmelo was the easiest and most complete scorer in the league. I agree. There are six ways to score: Shoot the three, shoot off the dribble, shoot off the pass, post up, get to the rim, and get to the foul line. Carmelo can do all of those with ease.
That is why he is, every year, one of the best clutch scorers in the game. There is simply no fool-proof way to guard him down the stretch.
He is also an above average rebounder and an underrated passer. If he gave even 75% on defense, Carmelo would be higher.

8. Kobe Bryant

Alright, Laker fans. Just do as I say. Breathe in. Breathe out. Count to ten. Now listen.

There are not many people that love Kobe more than me. I actually think he’s going to have a better career than Michael Jordan. However, he’s a shell of his former self. And you really can’t argue otherwise.

He averaged 25 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists last year – very good, but not other-worldly. He also had VERY average percentages of 45/83/32.

The fact is, he can no longer get to the rim whenever he wants. He’s also not a good three point shooter, and hasn’t been for several years now.

He is what he is. 1998 Michael Jordan. He just kills you with his back to the basket.

The only problem is that the league is much better today than it was in 1998. An unathletic Michael Jordan might still have been one of the top ten athletes in the league back then. An unathletic Kobe just has way more problems in 2011.

I know he has more rings. I know he’s accomplished great things. I know he’s a warrior.

But for THIS year? With the game he has RIGHT now? These next seven guys are, simply, better.

7. Dwyane Wade

There is literally no way that you could look at the numbers from last season and objectively argue that Kobe is better than Wade at this point. Kobe is a better shooter, but that’s it. Wade is a better slasher, he’s more explosive getting to the rim, he’s a better passer, and he’s CLEARLY a better defender at this point. (Don’t be fooled by the ridiculous All-NBA Defensive Teams…Kobe hasn’t been an elite defender for three years now.)

The guy that gets Wade at #7 will be licking his chops.

6. Kevin Durant

He can do almost everything that Carmelo can do (he can’t post up consistently yet) at a slightly better rate. He may not be the easiest and most complete scorer in the league, but he is the best scorer.

He’s also a leader, and loves to have the rock in crunch time. He dominated for Team USA, and he was a manimal in the playoffs last year.
Having him #6 is not a slight either. Again, if this were a draft for the future, he could very well be #1. These other five guys are just a little bit better than him RIGHT now.

5. Dwight Howard

I had more trouble with D-12 than I had with anyone else on this list. On the one hand, he’s the best defensive big man in the league, and has a growing offensive game. Nobody can guard him. Nobody is as big as he is. He’s very unselfish. He’s a game-changer in every single way.
However, this Superman has a kryptonite as well – free throw shooting.

Dwight Howard, for all of his positives, runs away from the ball in crunch time. The next four guys don’t.

Will Howard make your team a lock for the playoffs every single year? Yes. However, he’s not guaranteeing me a title unless I get some really good play from other players. That’s why he comes no higher than #5.

4. Dirk Nowitzki

Just look at what Dallas did with him in the lineup last year. I could spend hours talking about how good he is in crunch time, how effective he is on the high post, and how great of a leader he is on and off the floor.

However, I’ll just leave it at this. Dirk has the second most unstoppable shot of all time…and that will give you a chance in every single game.

3. Derrick Rose

Last season’s MVP, and for good reason. With the way the rules are currently set up, there is just no real way to guard any point guard that is quick.

Rose was getting by his man with ease – before he had a jump shot. They were standing five feet off of him, and he was STILL blowing by them. Now that he has a more consistent jumper, he’s basically a cheat code.

He’s also an incredible defender, and hates to lose. I watched him single-handedly put the Pacers out of the playoffs last season. He’s a winner, and on the right team, he will win it all.

2. Chris Paul

The evolved Isiah Thomas. As long as he’s healthy, nobody makes his team better. Look at the Hornets’ roster, and give me one reason that they made the playoffs last year that doesn’t include “Chris Paul did…”

He can score at will, but chooses not to until his team is firing on all cylinders. He singlehandedly destroyed the Lakers in the playoffs, and did it in beautiful fashion.

He’s Coach K’s choice for PG on Team USA, and if not for the last guy on this list, he would be the best player in the league.

1. LeBron James

Trust me, I’m as much of a LeBron hater as anybody. But let’s talk about LeBron for a moment.

Is it his fault that he’s literally never had a competent GM putting together the right type of team around him? Remember, you get the first pick, and then you don’t get to pick again until #26. That means that there will be NO teams in this league with multiple superstars. In fact, very few teams in this league will even have multiple All-Stars. We have turned our new NBA into a socialistic league – all of the talent is divided up “equally.” If the teams were equal, would you really put your money on anybody else?

Look, I understand that LeBron shrunk in crunch time last year. That was the product of not knowing his place on the team. It’s easy to forget that LeBron took this team to the NBA Finals…by himself. It’s easy to forget that a team whose second best players were Mo Williams and Zydrunas Ilgauskas NEARLY beat a team that had Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, Ray Allen, and Rajon Rondo.

In what world were the Cavs SUPPOSED to win any of those series’?

Give me LeBron with the #1 pick. At #26, I’ll take Marc Gasol. Then with #51, I’ll “reach” a little bit and pick Jason Terry (ranked #55 in ESPN’s rankings).

There’s really no way the #1 pick could be anybody else.

Would I take LeBron James on the Heat over Dirk Nowitzki on the Mavericks? Maybe not.

But if I can build my team around him, and all the other teams are equal, to me, it’s a no-brainer.

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What do you think?

Which selections do you agree or disagree with?

Let’s get some fun conversation going below.

Editor’s note: We are currently preparing an article in which a number of MSF writers submitted their top 20 NBA players of all-time. The goal is to see where Dirk falls in the top 20, or if he even makes it at all. Evan decided to narrow his scope a bit and go with the top 20 players of his lifetime. So we are posting his article first, with the mega top 20 article to come. Stay tuned…

Also note that Evan is 22 and says that he really started watching the NBA during the 1997-98 season.

It’s top-20 NBA Players mania around here right now, all thanks to Dirk Nowitzki’s superstar performance in earning his first ring this month. Everyone from announcers to journalists to bloggers are saying Dirk has hit legendary status, maybe even top 20 of all time. I think that sounds a tad high for Dirk, but he now has some serious hardware to reasonably back up the claim to a top-20 spot.

For my own part, I have always thought that the NBA MVP award was the most meaningful of any of the four major sports. Scan the list and you’ll notice every single winner is a Hall of Famer or well on his way to being enshrined. Dirk has his MVP award, he has his Finals MVP award, and most importantly he has his ring.

But is he on par with Larry Bird? Or is that just the most racially convenient historical comparison bandied by most experts?

Honestly, I don’t really know because I never actually saw Larry Bird play. But I have seen plenty of other great players, so for my Top-20 NBA Players list, I decided to restrict myself to those guys I’ve actually seen play. Here is my list with some highly subjective choices, some no doubters, and perhaps one begrudgingly included sharpshooter who burned my New York Knicks many years ago.

In no logical order:

Michael Jordan

Any all-time list has to start with Jordan, for better or for worse. It is incredibly hackneyed, yes, but I make my choice having seen Jordan take down two very good Utah Jazz teams, walk away from the NBA for a second time, then make a much hyped and ultimately unfulfilling comeback with the Washington Wizards.

I went to college in DC and I can tell you that Wizards fans still speak in hushed tones about the time they saw Jordan striding through the halls of the then-MCI Center. Even at 70%, Jordan was still the best of all time, and everyone knew it – remember Vince Carter giving up his starting spot on the 2003 All Star squad?

Vince Carter

Speaking of Vince, would any other player have really given up a starting spot on the All Star team for an aging legend? That act seems to encapsulate Carter’s career: he just didn’t care enough to be a winner. He attended UNC graduation the morning of Game 7 of the 2001 Eastern Conference Semifinals against the 76ers and then missed a shot at the buzzer that would have sent the Raptors to the Conference Finals.

We as sports fans love to make assumptions about players character or mental makeup, especially for guys that just don’t seem to care that much. It is maybe the most frustrating ascribed personality trait, since fans care so much about sports that they simply cannot fathom a player not giving 100 percent every time they hit the floor.

But damn it if Vince couldn’t dunk with the best of them.

Allen Iverson

Question: who was the player burning up Vince Carter’s Raptors during the 2001 Eastern Conference Semifinals? Answer: The Answer.

I remember rocking the Reebok I3 sneakers while trying out for my middle school basketball team, trying to cross over just like Iverson. Definitely the coolest NBA player of the last few decades. If you look at Iverson in a vacuum, without the off the court stuff, the tattoos, the “practice?!” incredulity, he may be the best high volume scorer of the last 20 years. He took a lot of shots to get his points, but he was a warrior and played much bigger than his size.

Now he’s trying to come back to the NBA. Please, no one give him a shot. Let us keep the memories, AI.

Chris Webber

This is one of those subjective picks. For whatever reason, I loved Chris Webber. I would stay up late to watch Kings games from the West Coast and always picked the Kings in NBA 2k for Dreamcast. He was such a good passer, such a silky shooter, and such a waste of immense talent. Another career seemingly cut short by injuries and maybe just not caring enough.

Gary Payton

I had a weird thing for Seattle teams as a kid, mostly because I loved Ken Griffey Jr, and I loved the nickname The Glove. Payton was an unstoppable defender and a legendary trash talker – in the same way Michael Jordan always had his tongue out, it seemed Payton’s mouth never closed. Also, those Sonics teams with Payton, Shawn Kemp and Detlef Schrempf were absolutely unstoppable in NBA Jam.

(On a related note, it is incredibly satisfying to see Schrempf cameo on Parks and Recreation every once in a while.)

Tracy McGrady

Vince Carter’s cousin in game and in spirit. McGrady looks like he is sleeping through games because of his droopy eyes, and it can be very infuriating. But he may have had the most unique skill set of anyone on this list – it seemed like he could score from anywhere at any time.

Remember his 13 points in 33 seconds? A legendary scoring binge.

Ray Allen

I debated putting Reggie Miller here, but I hate Reggie Miller and this is my list. T-Mac’s 13 in 33 is the best scoring binge of all time, because 8 in 18 NEVER HAPPENED.  But while Miller is probably the best outside shooter of the last 20 years, Ray Allen is the better all-around player. He has really had quite the career, from superstar to trade bait to a resurgence on the other side of 30 as a contributor for a championship squad.

Kevin Garnett

Maybe the scariest player I’ve ever seen. The opposite of Vince Carter. He would run through a brick wall. Not for anything, just for fun.

Jason Kidd

Hanging on forever, finally earning his first ring, and seemingly always in the right place at the right time. An appallingly bad shooter for most of his career, and yet a guy you would never want to see on the other team.

Tim Duncan

Could you put together a YouTube video of Duncan highlights that won’t put you to sleep? Probably, but I will mostly remember Duncan for being great and awful to watch and bugging his eyes out at every chance.

Shaquille O’Neal

I have written about Shaq before but it bears repeating that he could have won the MVP every single season during his prime and it still would not have been enough.

Kobe Bryant

Oddly enough, the closest thing we will ever get to Michael Jordan in the immediate future. He is constantly evolving and adapting his game from a high flyer as a kid (below) to a beefed up slasher to a deadly shooter. And probably the undisputed king of the twisting, spinning circus shot.

Dwyane Wade

Unless it’s this guy.

LeBron James

I really, truly hope he comes back next season with a vengeance. He’s entering that Shaq phase of his prime in that he probably deserved the MVP award this year, and will probably deserve it every year for a while. Ultimately will be judged by championships. Most hated, but also the top selling jersey in the NBA. Hmmm…

Dirk Nowitzki

His game is like a trapeze act – your heart drops every time he spins and launches a high arcing shot, and you think there is no way he can land it. And almost every time, like clockwork, bottom of the bucket.

Steve Nash

Dirk’s former running mate and probably the most fun player in the NBA. He just seems like a cool guy, right? With the hair flopping and the shots that always fall, a real treasure. I really hope the Knicks don’t trade for him and his creaky back.

Chris Paul

However, I DO hope the Knicks get him and his balky knees.

Amar’e Stoudemire

Speaking of balky knees. A veritable Six-Million Dollar man and a marvel of medical science. The fact that this guy can still dunk like a beast makes absolutely no sense, and makes me want to transport his surgeon back 10 years to save Chris Webber’s career too.

Carmelo Anthony

I am so excited for the 2011 Knicks, in case you haven’t figured that out yet.

Kevin Durant

I don’t really know what will happen with Durant. It seemed like he poised for a transcendent season, and basically hit a plateau at very very very good. But besides the crazy beautiful shooting stroke, he can dunk like very few others.

Blake Griffin

Finally, the one guy who can absolutely shut down the internet like a Blake Lively sexting mishap. There are basically two schools of thought on Blake Griffin:

1. HOLY CRAP!!!
2. What if he develops a jump shot HOLY CRAP!!!

There have been a lot of incredible players in NBA history, but guys like Griffin and Derrick Rose and Deron Williams and Stephon Curry and Kevin Love and Russell Westbrook around, there is a talent glut like never before in my lifetime.

Until the lockout ruins it all.

I don’t know about you, but I sat riveted during the Slam Dunk contest. I was turned off by the obvious Kia product placement at the end, and the slimy feeling that the final result was predetermined, but that should take nothing away from the spectacular feats of athleticism achieved by DeMar DeRozan, Serge Ibaka, JaVale McGee, and of course Blake Griffin.

In fact, the dunks turned in by these high flying artists were so good, so jaw-dropping, and so majestic, that there is really only one possible way to make them better: put ‘em in super slow motion. And that’s just what the NBA did.

Below are dunks by Griffin, McGee, and DeRozan, slowed down quite substantially and backed up by dramatic music – for the record, the kind of music I always wish was playing on Saturday mornings at my apartment when I cook eggs and toast for myself and try to finish both at the same time so they’re piping hot when it’s eating time. (Hey, when you live alone, you can pretend anything is a life or death scenario just shits and giggles.)

Blake Griffin Car Dunk in Super Slow Motion

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JaVale McGee Double Ball Dunk in Super Slow Motion

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DeMar DeRozan One Bounce Alley Oop Reverse Dunk in Super Slow Motion

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Simply stunning. Kudos to the NBA for creating videos like this and engaging their fans via YouTube. These dunks were most certainly worthy.

What IS important are these next seven things.

1. Aaron Rodgers will have more rushing yards than James Starks

Pittsburgh’s defense is very tough to run against. That is a fact. They led the league this year allowing only 68.2 rushing yards per game. The Bears were a distant second at 90.1 yards per game. The Packers will more than likely focus more on throwing the ball than running it, thus allowing Rodgers more opportunities to scramble and gain bigger chunks of yards than Starks will.

2. Clay Matthews will have a bigger impact than Troy Polamalu

By “bigger impact” I mean impact plays: sacks, interceptions, tackles for loss, forced fumbles, etc. These two players finished one-two in voting for the Defensive Player of the Year award, and for obvious reason. With Polamalu’s injury it will be interesting to see how much of an impact he will actually make, with reports saying he is only at 75 percent.

3. LeBron James will outscore the Green Bay Packers

The NBA took a page out of the NHL’s playbook and provided some solid counter-programming on Super Bowl Sunday, matching up Miami and the Clippers. With the game in Miami, LeBron will continue his hot streak and put up some points against upstart Blake Griffin.

Now for my favorite props bets.

4. There will be a successful 2-point conversion

“Yes” is at +400, which are fantastic odds considering the type of game this could be. Both teams have solid defenses but also offenses that have the ability to put up points. If this is a close game down the stretch, it wouldn’t be out of the ordinary to see a two-point conversion attempt.

5. The Steelers will score a first half rushing touchdown

“Yes” is at +150, which I like for two reasons. One, the Steelers have scored four rushing touchdowns this postseason to only two throwing touchdowns. Two, the Steelers are the type of team that can create turnovers, and turnovers usually result in a short field, which could lead to plays around the goal line, a prime spot to run the ball.

6. The Super Bowl XLV MVP will not be an offensive player

Like I said, both defenses have the types of players who are game changers. The last time Green Bay won a Super Bowl, Desmond Howard won the MVP and became the first special teamer to do so.

Ben Roethlisberger has never won the MVP award in the two Super Bowl wins he has. This trend will continue in what I think will be a Steelers win. Ryan Clark is my choice. Two interceptions.

7. The Steelers will win & cover, and total points will hit the over

The over/under is at 44.5 as of Thursday night, and to hit the under the game would have to be a 24-20 type game. I say it goes over that. The Steelers have the experience, the quarterback, and the attitude to win this game.

Green Bay has the potential to be a great team, they just aren’t ready yet. Maybe next year, oh “great” Aaron Rodgers. By the way, I hope you find your belt at the bottom of the river.

Jan Vesely says he’s in the Draft. The 6-11, 20-year-old told SLAM Magazine that he will “enter the 2011 NBA Draft” and that he’s “ready for the NBA after this season.” Vesely is spending time between the small and power forward spots for Partizan, though he says that he envisions himself as a “power forward” in the NBA. Donned “the European Blake Griffin” by many, he’s had no problem putting guys on posters and has more bounce than any true European in recent memory.

With the way Blake Griffin is dominating the NBA with his freakish athleticism, the unbridled power of his dunks, and his consistent onslaught of 20-10s, any player being compared to Griffin should pique the interest of basketball fans. And when it’s a skinny white dude from Europe – a continent not exactly known for producing Blake Griffin clones – the intrigue is even more acute.

So I went to YouTube to see Jan Vesely for myself and determine if there is any validity to the “Euro Blake Griffin” moniker. Before I tell you what I think, check him out for yourself.

Note: the soundtrack for this mixtape is definitely NSFW thanks to the lyrics (which are extremely profane), so turn down your speakers if necessary or if that sort of thing bothers you.

Video Mixtape: Jan Vesely – the “Euro Blake Griffin”

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So what do you think? Should Blake Griffin be worried that his awe-inspiring game will soon become commonplace once all the power-dunking Europeans show up, led by Vesely? Yeah, not so much. I won’t say that calling Vesely the “Euro Blake Griffin” is as bad as when Tamir Goodman was called the “Jewish Jordan”, but it’s at least in a surrounding zip code.

Sure, Vesely has some ups and the coordination to complete alley-oops, but a skinny European guy dunking over other skinny European guys who appear disinterested in defense isn’t really anything to get worked up about. Plus, I bet you that if someone put together a mix tape of Blake Griffin, it wouldn’t include a free throw.

Okay, jokes aside, here is what this mixtape of Vesely shows:

• He’s got some skills, including a nice looking jump shot (those his scouting report says it’s inconsistent)
• He has length with decent speed and quickness (for a Euro) to go with it
• He’s a cocky SOB who probably thinks he’s the Euro Blake Griffin

If you want any more cold water to throw on the “Euro Blake Griffin” notion, this comes from Vesely’s scouting report on MyNBADraft.com:

Body needs more bulk……very skinny and lean, and doesn’t posses the physical mind set to play the four effectively.

Does that sound at all like Blake Griffin to you? Uh, no. And just in case you need a quick reminder of how big a difference there is between Griffin and Vesely, here you go:

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Also, there is this about Vesely: the player he is compared to is Nikolaz Tskitishvili. Yes, this Nicholas Tskitishvili, who shot 30.4% from the field during a thoroughly disappointing four-year NBA career.

Will some NBA team probably grab Vesely in the first round this year because of his measurables and youth and the success of guys like Dirk Nowitzki? Probably. Could Jan Vesely turn into a really good NBA player someday? Of course he could. Is he the next Blake Griffin or even a close facsimile? Hell no. And if he’s the closest Europe can get to producing a player comparable to Griffin, we should probably just retire the term “Euro Blake Griffin” forever and cut out the comparison hyperbole.

Unless someone wants to starts calling me the “Midwestern Bill Simmons.” Then we can talk.

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Dribbling the ball up the court, he exploded into the lane, took off from the dotted circle, and literally flew into and through San Antonio’s Gary Neal on his way to a marvelous two-hand jam. Smith’s spectacular jam caused Kevin Harlan to exclaim, “We just saw a man fly!”

And he was right.

However, as amazing as JR Smith’s aerial display was, and I’ve already watched it at least 10 times this morning, was it better than the back-to-back power slams that Blake Griffin delivered against the Knicks earlier this year?

Watch both videos and cast your vote.

Flight: JR Smith Flies Over Gary Neal

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Fight: Blake Griffin Powers Over and Annihilates the Knicks

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Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll.

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Yes, the Los Angeles Clippers are making a name for themselves, and they are doing it with pure youth. They have the offensive machine Eric Gordon, who helped Team USA win gold this summer, and then they have the kid I like to call “The Monster”.

“The Monster” came straight from Oklahoma, missed his first NBA season due to injury, and was somewhat forgotten this past summer due to John Wall, LeBron, and the many summer storylines for the NBA. Yes, if you haven’t figured it out, the kid’s name is Blake Griffin, and not only is he making a nice run for the Slam Dunk Contest, but he is neck-and-neck with Reebok poster-child, John Wall, for Rookie Of The Year.

Blake Griffin is making waves in LA, and has already begun making waves all over the NBA world.

AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill

Watching this dude in college was something. He was a manchild. Literally.  Physically, Blake Griffin would dominate, crush, and destroy people in the paint. He would rebound, shoot, post up, defend, pass, and pretty much do anything else you could ask of him. Things haven’t changed in the NBA.

Blake Griffin came into the season with less anticipation than last season, simply because the new kid on the block is John Wall, the Miami Heat were grabbing attention from everywhere, and instead of playing the Lakers in this season’s opener, they were playing the Rockets. Dude didn’t disappoint. Check out Blakey’s first bucket:

Not bad, eh? Well if you’ve missed Griffin’s NBA season thus far, that’s pretty much what has been going on.

Harry How/Getty Images

Though the Clippers are a deflated, and currently have the worst record in all of the NBA at 1-13, Blake Griffin is not letting that affect him, as he is pumping in a double-double per game, with 18 points, and 10 rebounds, and is shooting an impressive 49.8 percent from the field. Blake is the reason why the Clips are must-watch TV, even though their season is as ugly as coyote. What’s not to like about the kid? He’s 6-10, and weighs in at 250 pounds, has a monstrous presence in the paint, but yet at the same time, has the gracefulness to kiss it off the glass, tip it in, or just get a nice little hook over you.

But the monster sure as hell was shown on November 20th, when the Knicks came into town their new superstar, Amar’e Stoudemire. You could almost assume that Amar’e, being the experienced and proven All-Star he is, would put work in for Griffin, and show the youngin’ how real big man is played, right?

WRONG.

Blake Griffin not only stood up to the challenge, but he exceeded anyone’s performance on the floor:

You might now agree with me that this kid is really, “The Monster”, no?

Not only did he put half of the Knicks roster in posters, but he filled up the stat sheet, as if it were his to dominate that night! Griffin put in a whopping 44 points, 15 rebounds, 7 assists, 2 steals, and 1 block, on 14 of 24 shooting, and 16-23 from the line.

Are you kidding me right now? Not only are these numbers genius, but to put them up when you’re being guarded by one of the league’s better forwards, in Amar’e, is simply amazing. Yes, the Clippers did end up losing, but get used to it. That will be this season’s theme from the other LA team.

That’s not the point though. Ask anyone in the Clippers organization, and they’ll tell you they feel like their season is already won. They have their man. They have their franchise stud. Blake Griffin is, and will continue to be the face of this Clippers organization for years to come. Heck, the Clips can go 1-81, and I’ll still be happy for them. Dubbed one of the worst franchises ever in sports history, the Clippers are finally starting to see the light. With young studs like Gordon, Gomes, Griffin, Jordan and a couple others, the future is looking bright.

And as for Griffin himself, he looks like he could steal the R.O.Y. trophy from the ZigTech wonder in D.C.

This is Mark Titus, aka Club Trillion, who is a walk-on for the Ohio State basketball team. As you will see in the video, not only does he have impeccably cheesy taste in music, but he can make shots too!

And now your links.

NBA:

• Then-coach John Lucas: Cavs tanked in 02-03 to get LeBron — (FanHouse)
• Blake Griffin guilty of grand larceny? — (Bootlegger Sports)
• Bulls’ State-of-the-Union Address — (Blog-a-Bull at Tremendous Upside Potential)
• NBA Jam making a comeback! — (Rumors and Rants)

College Football:

• So, how will Layla Kiffin look in garnett and gold? — (Intentional Foul)
• Lovie Smith would be wise to consider Tennessee this time around — (Pro Football Talk)

NFL:

• 4 Brett Favre Starter Commercials — (Outside the Box Score)
• Despite rough season, Bears TE Desmond Clark still believes in Lovie, Cutler — (Bear Goggles On)
• AFC Divisional Round Predictions — (MoonDog)
• 2009 All Pro Team — (Pro Football Talk)

MLB:

• Jim Essian: HOF Mustache — (7th Inning Stache)
• New fave commercial: El Duque Orlando Hernandez selling you airless water valves — (Sharapova’s Thigh)
• Quick reminder: Frank Thomas never used steroids and was pretty damn good — (Tremendous Upside Potential)
• Why Mark McGwire was forced to tell the truth — (Paneech)

Douches (and I don’t mean the fine folks at D4L):

• Fake Jay Mariotti Twitter account fools all — (Detroit 4 Lyfe)

MISC:

• A fan’s lament: The Fleecing of Sports — (Docksquad Sports)
• Wyclef Jean reacts to Haiti earthquake — (Steady Burn)
• 10 Hottest American Idol Contestants of All-Time — (Guyism)
• Prime examples of why some women stay single — (Uncoached)
• Man fatally injured during…sex with horse — (MoonDog)
• 10 Fun iPhone Apps for Beer Lovers — (Mashable)

Griffin is the luckiest blue-chipper since them: not only does he play for a potential playoff team, but he doesn’t have to fight with someone for minutes or carry the scoring load. He just has to worry about running the floor, rebounding and finishing. A cushy situation, to say the least. For once, it appears as if becoming a Clipper was the BEST thing that could have happened to someone.

(Note: Please don’t e-mail this paragraph to me in three weeks if Blake is rolling around on the floor holding his right ankle. Thank you.)

Unfortunately for Blake Griffin, Clippers fans, and basketball fans in general, the following headline appeared on ESPN.com this morning: “Clippers’ Griffin has broken kneecap, out weeks.”

Well that sucks.

If you’re a Clippers fan, looks like it’s time to start emailing or tweeting Simmons.

As a Hoosier fan, the Clippers have become one of the NBA teams I follow due to Eric Gordon. I was very excited about the potential for the Clips to be a much improved team this year with the dynamic Griffin running the floor and providing a uniquely big and athletic presence on both ends.

Now it looks like we will have to wait (most likely six weeks). And it’s all Bill Simmons’ fault.

Sure, Simmons said his “ankle,” and said “three weeks,” but still. Perhaps the recent catastrophe at his D.C. book signing was karmic payback for jinxing Blake Griffin and making Clippers fans feel worse than they already do.

Probably not. Griffin is, after all, a Clipper…which makes him infinitely more prone to jinxes and freakish injury than anyone other than a Madden cover boy. I hope Eric Gordon is plotting his exit as quickly as humanly possible, if he can get out alive.

Still, the proximity of Simmons’ article and Griffin’s injury make such a connection obvious. I’m just glad Simmons isn’t a college basketball fan so he can’t talk about how Christian Watford and Maurice Creek are in great, “cushy” situations at Indiana, and then…

Well you know the rest.

Get well soon Blake. Few rookies promise the excitement and immediate impact of a guy like Blake Griffin. He was averaging 13.7 points and 8.1 rebounds per game in the preseason after averaging 22.7 points and 14.4 rebounds per game last year in college.

Let’s just hope it’s not something that lingers. Like franchise-wide jinxes and offhand jokes about injuries in Sports Guy columns…

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* – Blake Griffin photo credit: Newscom via EveryJoe.com

Note: This post is from 2009. To view our 2010 March Madness coverage, use the following links:

• March Madness 2010 Schedule, Sites, and Tickets
• MSF Bracket Challenge
• Mens NCAA Tournament Bracket, TV Schedule, Announcers, Spreads
• Midwest Region Bracket Picks, Predictions, TV Schedule, Sites, Announcers
• East Region Bracket Picks, Predictions, TV Schedule, Sites, Announcers
• South Region Bracket Picks, Predictions, TV Schedule, Sites, Announcers
• West Region Bracket Picks, Predictions, TV Schedule, Sites, Announcers
• History of Final Four in Indianapolis
• Women’s NCAA Tournament Schedule, Sites, Tickets

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This post will analyze the North Carolina-Oklahoma Elite 8 game using a statistical analysis provided by the Game Predictor at ESPN.com, which is powered by TeamRankings.com. For an analysis of how this program works, hop over to the first individual game Sweet 16 preview I put out for UConn-Purdue. The methodology is all explained there.

(You have my apologies in advance for the relative shortness of this Elite 8 preview. I’ve spent a good 2 to 3 hours on each of the others, but I’m under the gun after an oil change for my car took a little longer than expected and a huge birthday bash for my girlfriend’s grandfather is quickly impending. But I’ll try to go as in-depth as I can on this one.)

Both North Carolina and Oklahoma head into Sunday’s South Regional Final riding incredible waves of momentum.

North Carolina has their leader back in Ty Lawson, looking healthier by the minute, and he led them to victory over an overmatched Gonzaga team last night. Lawson scored 19 points and had 9 assists in the 98-77 North Carolina victory, while Tyler Hansbrough poured in 24 points on efficient 8-10 shooting and had 10 rebounds.

Likewise, Blake Griffin is showing no ill-effects from the injury that sidelined him towards the end of the regular season and Oklahoma is beginning to look like the team that many thought was going to be a #1 seed before slumping down the stretch. OU completely took apart Syracuse last night, winning 84-71, and earning the only victory I did not predict from the eight Sweet 16 games.

Tomorrow’s game should be a good one, and certainly more competitive than the Sweet 16 games for each. Here are the particulars:

North Carolina-Oklahoma South Regional Final – Elite 8 Preview and Prediction

• StubHub: South Regional Final – Elite 8 Tickets
• South Regional Breakdown
• Date: Sunday, March 29
• TV Time: 5:05 PM on CBS
• Site: FedEx Forum in Memphis, TN
• Announcers: Jim Nantz and Clark Kellogg
• Point Spread: North Carolina -6.5
• Over-Under: 164

Now let’s hop over to Game Predictor for a quick look at this one, using the same statistical categories we’ve used for each Sweet 16 game and each Elite 8 game:

• Offensive Efficiency: North Carolina – 1.156 | Oklahoma – 1.125
• Defensive Efficiency: North Carolina – 0.933 | Oklahoma – 0.956
• Assist/TO Ratio: North Carolina – 1.425 | Oklahoma – 1.118
• Free Throw %: North Carolina – 0.762 | Oklahoma – 0.675
• Defensive Field Goal %: North Carolina – 0.413 | Oklahoma – 0.395

And the prediction from Game Predictor:

• Odds to Win Game: North Carolina – 72.9% | Oklahoma – 27.1%
• Most Likely Final Score: North Carolina – 74.5 | Oklahoma – 66.9
• Odds to Cover Spread (OU +6.5): North Carolina – 61.4% | Oklahoma – 38.6%
• Confidence Level: 4 Stars

I am not surprised by the Game Predictor analysis, nor do I disagree.

Oklahoma is a very good team, and Blake Griffin is obviously monster. The battle between he and Tyler Hansbrough is going to be a great one, and features 2 of perhaps the 5 five best college basketball players over the last half decade. Griffin most likely will not be a four-year player like Hansbrough has been, and has much more upside at the next level because of his athleticism, but Hansbrough is a wily old veteran who will come as close as anyone can to battling Griffin to a draw.

That leaves the rest of the two teams’ respective rosters to decide this game. And unless Griffin just dominates Hansbrough, I don’t see the rest of the Oklahoma team being able to do enough to keep pace with North Carolina.

Willie Warren is a fine player, especially for a freshman, and has a bright future, but Ty Lawson is 3-year veteran with tournament experience whose vast improvement from downtown has provided another weapon for a North Carolina offense that already had plenty. The Tar Heels average an astounding 90.5 points per game, utilizing the same attacking style of offense that was on display last night against Gonzaga. Oklahoma has shown that they can play in the 90s this season, but against the likes of Baylor and Texas Tech, neither of which, obviously, is the caliber of North Carolina.

For Oklahoma to compete, Warren will obviously need to be on his game from a scoring standpoint, and guys like Taylor Griffin, Tony Crocker, and Austin Johnson will need to defy their season averages and two or three of them will need to get into double figures. North Carolina has five guys who average in double figures on the season, and while Oklahoma displayed solid defense last night against Syracuse, they will have to step it up another notch or two to contain this potent Tar Heels offense.

Honestly, it looks to me like this Tar Heels team is on a mission that was going to be derailed by one thing: Ty Lawson’s injury. Considering his second half performance against LSU, and his efficiently explosive 27 minutes against Gonzaga, I think we can remove his injury from the list of concerns for the Tar Heels. Said Gonzaga’s Josh Heytvelt after last night’s loss to Carolina:

“If they play like that, they’re going to win the national championship,” Gonzaga’s Josh Heytvelt said. “They’d hit every shot, it seemed like. You can’t do anything on teams like that.”

I’m not ready to go quite that far yet, but it’s hard to argue with Hytvelt’s sentiment.

I predicted North Carolina to reach the title game, but to lose to UConn. And whether or not UConn ends up winning, I have a hard time believing this year’s national champion won’t come from one of the four Big East teams remaining. But North Carolina is the one team I think can compete with the Big East badasses that are still standing.

And I certainly think they can, and will, beat Oklahoma.

Blake Griffin will no doubt have a great game and give his all in trying to keep Oklahoma in it, but I think North Carolina pulls away in the second half and wins this one by 10 or 11 to cover the spread and move on to Detroit.

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